Chapter 9 Chapter 8 Burning the Old Summer Palace

On September 7, after the British and French allied forces ransacked the Old Summer Palace, they sent an ultimatum to Hengqi, demanding the release of Pachari, or they would attack the capital. At this time, the outside of Beijing was full of smoke. After the Old Summer Palace, the invaders successively looted the official residences of some princes and nobles outside the city. On September 9, the Chinese side released Bacharley and others. However, there are still 6 British, 3 French and 2 Sikhs who have not been released.In the end, according to those who returned, these people will never come back, and they have been killed by the Qing army.

Elgin sent a note to the Chinese side that the decision to attack the city could not be abandoned until all the captives were released.In order to express its warning, the Chinese side should take the initiative to open a city gate and surrender. Yi Fu had already gone to Lugouqiao and Changxindian to hide.He could only look at the column of smoke reaching the sky in the capital, and guess what happened there.He lost contact with Kyung-nai. Elgin ordered the commander-in-chief Grant to prepare for the siege, and Grant ordered the Royal Engineers to set up a fort outside Andingmen.At this time Gordon led his engineers and began to build fortifications.There is a place called the Temple of Earth outside the Anding Gate, surrounded by 18-foot-high walls, which just provide an ideal barrier for the built fort.After rush repairs day and night, the Gordons repaired the fort.

On October 13, Elgin ordered the siege.At the moment when the gunner loaded the shells into the barrel and was about to fire, the city gate opened.The Qing army surrendered. The safety gate opened. The artillery of the British and French allied forces aimed at the Forbidden City. Because all the captured people failed to survive, Erjin became furious, and he wanted to take revenge on the Qing government.In order to punish the Qing court, the British and French allied forces held a special meeting to discuss ways to retaliate.The French advocated attacking and destroying the Forbidden City, while Elgin advocated destroying the Old Summer Palace.

However, the Old Summer Palace has been looted and damaged.This is where the lower ranks of soldiers start first.But this kind of looting is not collective and large-scale, it is a sneaky act. What Elgin meant was that the Qing army should be punished for killing captives.If it is allowed to make compensation, it is clear that the burden of payment will fall on the common people.Elgin hypocritically said that ordinary people are innocent and they should not bear such punishment.The Qing emperor and the bureaucratic nobles should be directly attacked so that they can no longer be at ease in such a beautiful villa as the Old Summer Palace.Therefore, the Old Summer Palace must be completely destroyed.

The British Bernard Allen also described it in "Gordon in China": ... Lord Elgin, in consultation with the Commander-in-Chief, decided to burn the Old Summer Palace as a direct blow to the Qing emperor and his cohorts, and also because it was from there that the incomparable cruelty to the captives was carried out. The reader must remember that the palace was sacked by the French, and countless treasures destroyed or looted.So, by the time Lord Elgin decided to order, most of the brutality had already been done, but he was often blamed for it afterwards.In fact, the order to burn the palace took five days, and this gap created an opportunity for looting.Even so, on October 18, when Gordon led the engineering team to perform the mission, the pavilions and pavilions still looked so beautiful that he felt distressed to destroy them.

Although the author Allen is a colonialist who defends the interests of colonialism, he still has to admit that this is an atrocity, an unprecedented catastrophe. On October 17, Erjin sent a note to Yiqi saying: The Old Summer Palace will be destroyed.This does not require you to make any decisions. Our high command has already decided, and now it is a matter of implementation. After the Old Summer Palace was burned, Grant, the commander of the British army, commanded the coalition forces to set fire to the pavilions in Xiangshan, Longevity Mountain, and Yuquan Mountain.Beijing has changed beyond recognition.

However, the matter was not over yet, the fundamental problem of the aggressors had not been resolved, they wanted to change the contract, pay compensation, and grab more benefits from China, but they suddenly discovered that Yisu, who was named the plenipotentiary by the emperor, was I can't find it anymore, and the ministers who deal with them are just insignificant ministers. Can they represent the Qing Dynasty? But how can we find the emperor's younger brother, Prince Gong?At this time, someone suggested that if we aim the cannon at the Forbidden City and bombard it a few times, someone from China will come to find it.

So the cannon was aimed at the Forbidden City. And the note said that if the requirements of the coalition forces were not followed, another action would be taken, and the imperial city would be attacked. But even if the palace is brought down, what should we do afterwards?If they still refuse to see, how can they return to Great Britain?Besides, winter is coming, the supply of ammunition will be a problem, and the cost of the war will be in crisis.What is even more worrying is that this army is no longer able to fight.Since Tianjin went north, especially since Hexiwu, the army has robbed every battle fought, and the journey of hundreds of miles has almost been completed in robbing.At first they robbed shops and private houses, then they robbed the mansions of dignitaries and nobles, and finally they robbed the royal gardens.Each of them has more and more bulging pockets and more and more things in their baggage.Especially when looting the Old Summer Palace, many soldiers actually wore embroidered cheongsams worn by Manchu bannermen and official hats with flower feathers. When the officials finally ordered the assembly, they couldn’t gather any people... Can such an army still fight?Fortunately, the Chinese army is completely scared. If there is a surprise attack by an entire army, it is very likely that the entire army will be wiped out...

This is exactly what Elgin is worried about. He wants to find Yijin and rely on the Chinese government to fulfill the interests of the British Empire in China. This requires a mediator in the middle. Elgin wants to convey his will through him, and also pass threats and intimidation along the way, so that the Qing government will be obedient as soon as possible, and obediently change the contract and return to China as a teacher. He thought of Ignatiev, the Russian minister. Ignatiev is a bat, and in international affairs, he is the quintessential speculator.He is almost alone, wandering around like a ghost, wherever there is a crisis, wherever there is a gap, he will go there.At first he was a penniless person, but he just knew how to make a living, talked to people and talked nonsense when he met people, and he even got into hot fights with the dignitaries in the capital of the Qing Dynasty.He has dealt with Sushun, Zaiyuan, and Yichao, and has had friendship.He often haunts the residences of the envoys of Britain, France, the United States and other countries in China. There is nothing to do, just a matter of etiquette, or sending one or two small gifts from Russia. This is his daily work.No one else looked down on these insignificant things, either sneered at them or dismissed them, but he did it with relish.His extraordinary talent is to discover the extraordinary in the ordinary, and to find the great things in the small things.Ignatiev is exceptionally alert and vigilant. Wherever he goes, his whole body is like a wide-open early warning radar. He will distinguish the real intelligence from everyone's facial expressions, and find out the truth from understated words. The undercurrent of value stirring under the surface of language.

He works for Russia. Work for the Tsar. His talent was discovered by the Russian Foreign Ministry, and in May 1860 he was awarded the post of Minister to China. His working method is obviously different from that of the British plenipotentiary Elgin and the French ambassador Gros.Elgin and Gero came to be tough, resorting to force, but Ignatiev used the opposite method to surrender without fighting. He relied on his three-inch tongue. China at that time was entangled by world powers in this way.Some use hard ones, some use soft ones, some use force, some use mouths, some plunder quickly like knives, and some entangle and ask for it like ghosts.

Ignatiev is the ghost haunting China.Facts have proved that it was Ignatiev who took away a large area of ​​land from China by means of threats and coaxing, which is no less beneficial than the British obtained from China. Ignatiev was invited by the British, and he met Elgin and Gero.From the moment he met them, Ignatiev knew good things were coming for him and Russia.Lord Elgin's face was very gloomy.Beijing's late-autumn sunlight shines through the papered window lattice, casting a very mottled light on his face.He emerged from the dark background, and his cloudy eyes contained complicated content. Ignatiev didn't even think he was the winner, something must have bitten him inside.He is asking him for help. Elgin is undoubtedly in pain, he is destined to be chained to the pillar of shame in history, and his soul will be tortured forever.Hugo scolded him bluntly: the victor stole all the wealth of the Summer Palace, and then shared the spoils with each other.All these actions are in the name of Erjin.Although his notoriety had spread everywhere, he had not yet honed his innocence.He knew that he was being dragged along by something, sliding down the unfathomable abyss, the abyss of eternal evil. Ignayev found his position deftly and quickly figured out what to do.He assured Elgin that he would find officials who could represent the Chinese government and teach them how to obey your will. In this way, Ignayev walked out of the headquarters of the coalition forces under Elgin's gaze, and disappeared into the October sunset in Beijing. Ignatiev entered Beijing and visited the military and political officials such as Hengqi, Chonglun, Ruichang and Wenxiang who were stranded in Beijing.Unexpectedly, these officials are also looking for a mediator. In order to find Ignatiev, they also entrusted the Russian Orthodox Church High Priest Guli, begging him to come forward to make peace. Gu Li informed Ignatiev of the situation of the Chinese government, and Yi was overjoyed.This is the most favorable situation.Both parties are eager to find a mediator, which shows the importance of this position.He felt that he had the military power of a hundred thousand troops in his hands, that he could call the wind and rain, and he could make contributions to Russia. In order to sing this play well, he deliberately did not utter it.He instructed Gu Li to ask Wen Xiang and other officials to come to his place to find him instead of going to the Qing officials himself. Gu Li replied to Wen Xiang and others, saying that Ignatiev might intercede for the Chinese government, but he did not meet Chinese officials and did not understand your sincerity, so he did not dare to make up his mind. When Wen Xiang and the others heard this, they immediately ordered the gifts to be prepared, got into the official sedan chair, and the group came to Ignatiev's place. It was a sunny day, and the sun was so hot that the bearers were sweating profusely.Ignatiev had heard the babbling of sedan chairs on the street and the shouting of guards in the guest room, but he deliberately dozed off on the desk. To make it more realistic, he even took a nap. started snoring.It wasn't until his subordinates reported that there was a visitor that he got up pretending to be sleepy, and asked the visitor to wait in the living room, while he slowly washed his face in another room. An hour passed, and Wen Xiang and the others couldn't sit still, before Ignatiev came out from the room and shook hands with the Chinese officials one by one. Wen Xiang and Rui Chang were usually domineering and reserved. When they met the Russian Minister, they had to smile flatteringly and begged him to help China in times of crisis for the sake of our neighbors. After listening to the request of the Chinese officials, Ignatiev pondered for a while, pretending to be very embarrassed, and said: It's not easy, it's not easy.From the personal feelings of this envoy, it seems that I should help you, but from your attitude towards Russia, it is difficult for me to help you.I just received a letter from the Tsar. He is very dissatisfied with China's delay in signing a treaty with Russia. If I want to help you and let the Tsar know, wouldn't it be my fault? Wen Xiang and Rui Chang heard the subtext of the Russian envoy, and they all said that if he could mediate and help China tide over the difficulties, they must try their best to ensure the signing of the Sino-Russian treaty at all costs, and not make things difficult for Ignatiev. Ignatiev said that I would be willing to act as a mediator if it was true what your lords said.To be honest, only the Russians can mediate this war.Because in Europe, no matter which country it is, as long as the name of the tsar is mentioned, everyone will stand up quickly.Because Russia is the most powerful country in Europe.For countries like Britain and France, it is only equivalent to one of our provinces.A cough from our Russian tsars makes their queen and Emperor Bonaparte tremble.If Russia is one big bear, they are nothing more than two moles... Now, please see how I deal with these two little guys.Ignatiev's words made the Chinese officials laugh out loud.Ignatiev went on to say: But, these two little moles are like two big tigers to you China.They have already aimed their cannons at your Forbidden City, and Lord Elgin was about to issue an order to attack the city. If that happens, your centuries-old palace will be reduced to ruins like the Old Summer Palace.It was I who stopped Lord Elgin.I said, we are all civilized people, should we give the Beijing government another chance, as long as they agree to our request, it is better not to bombard us.In this way, I came to the city.I hope you find Prince Gong immediately and accept all the conditions of the British and French coalition forces to save Beijing and the people of Beijing from the disaster of war... After speaking, Ignatiev took out the drafts of the Sino-Russian "Tianjin Treaty" and "Aigun Treaty" that had been prepared, and handed them over to Chinese officials.Its main content is: The territory of about 400,000 square kilometers east of the Ussuri River in China is designated as Russia.The border of the western section of China and Russia is stipulated, from Shapinda Baha via Jaisan Nur, Temur Tu Nur (now Issyk-Kul? to the border of Kokand, with Shanhe and the current permanent residence of China in Karen as the boundary. Added commercial ports , using Kashgar (now Kashgar City?) as a commercial port; allowing tax-free free trade for border residents of the two countries; Russian businessmen can trade sporadically in Ulan Bator and Zhangjiakou in the present-day Mongolian People's Republic of Kulun. Mao Russia set up consular officers in China's commercial seaports, and could send warships to guard them in order to check the living rules of merchant ships stationed in various seaports... In this way, Ignatiev, without a single soldier, or even a single blow, swallowed up the vast territory in northeastern China that the Russian tsar had dreamed of. Ignatiev got in touch with Yisu, and under Yi's coercion and lure, Yisu agreed to all the demands of the British and French coalition forces. Next, Yiqi instructed his subordinates and translators from Britain and France to translate into Chinese according to the draft drafted by Elgin and Gero.And negotiate on the location of the contract.Elgin said in an unquestionable tone that since Britain and France are victorious countries, China will spare no effort to comply with all our demands.The King of Great Britain has instructed us long ago that after the decisive victory, the signing ceremony should be held in the most prominent center of the Chinese capital to promote the prestige of the British Empire and the French Empire. For this reason, we have chosen Jingshan, please China On the one hand, make preparations as soon as possible, and don't make any more side effects... The British envoy's categorical words frightened the timid Chinese officials.There was no other way, the Chinese officials approached the Russian minister and begged him to intercede, it would be better to find another place. Ignatiev found Elgin and talked about his opinion.He said that we came to China mainly for the benefit of our respective countries and shouldered a sacred mission.Now, thanks to your incomparable wisdom and unremitting efforts, this mission is about to be realized.China will have to pay a heavy price.However, China is a strange country. They probably don't care about what they are about to lose, but only focus on what doesn't matter.For example, the location of the signing ceremony chosen by you, Jingshan, is the most sensitive nerve of the people of the Qing Dynasty and the court, and it is also a secret of the dynasty.Back then, Emperor Chongzhen of the Ming Dynasty hanged himself here when his country was ruined and his family was ruined, and the blood of the Ming Dynasty was ruined here.If you insist on holding the ceremony here, it means that the fate of the Qing Dynasty will be like that of the Ming Dynasty, and the final elegy will be staged in Jingshan.This will make Emperor Xianfeng associate with civil and military officials, and it will also cause social unrest.If chaos breaks out in China and the original order is disrupted, it will take at least ten or twenty years for it to stabilize.In such a long period of time, whom do we Western countries turn to to realize our interests?At present, the most reliable and safest way is to use the existing regime to protect our interests in China. I think it is the smartest choice.The Chinese are a country that pays attention to red tape, a country that believes in gods and ghosts, a country that prefers nothingness to disregard existence, and a nation that often loses the big because of small things.I think your Excellency understands what I mean, why don't you give them a hand in the minor details, so that they won't hurt their self-esteem, and they will think this is their victory.Let the Chinese engage in their superstitions, and we will fulfill their self-esteem.As long as we can get what we want! Ignatiev spoke eloquently, and Ergin nodded in agreement with what he said.Elgin was just a bureaucrat, while Yi was a scholar.Although both of them came to China for plunder, their opinions vary. Elgin listened to Ignatiev's words, and according to the request of Chinese officials, changed the place of signing to the Ministry of Rites of the Qing government. On October 24, 1860, the signing ceremony of the Sino-British Treaty of Beijing and the exchange of ratification documents of the Treaty of Tianjin were held at the Ministry of Rites of the Qing government in Beijing.Yijin and some civil and military officials had no time to rest after lunch, so they waited in the Ministry of Rites, waiting for the British ambassador Elgin to come to sign the contract. According to the time agreed by both parties, it has been more than two hours, and there is no sign of foreigners in the Ministry of Rites.Yiqi couldn't help breaking out in cold sweat.Could it be that the foreigners changed their minds midway?Or are they planning a new conspiracy?If the foreigners suddenly changed their face at this time and took advantage of the time of signing the contract to wipe out all civil and military officials and occupy Beijing, wouldn't it be easy?As Yijin thought about it, cold sweat began to drip down his face. After Erjin's draft was translated into Chinese, Yijin personally went to Rehe and presented it to Emperor Xianfeng for a review, but Yi Ning didn't speak for a while after reading it.Things have come to this point, and the Qing Dynasty has nothing to say.The draft treaties were all unilaterally proposed by the British. If they were not allowed, they would go to war, and they would not be able to fight.This day is a foreigner.The Qing Dynasty has come to this point, who is to blame? Yi Ning couldn't help feeling sad.He turned around and ignored him.They are all brothers, so Yining leaked his grief.Yijin saw his brother's shoulders twitching, and knew he was crying. When his nose got sore, he shed tears too. Is it really like the ancients said that the brilliance of a gentleman will be cut off for five generations?How vigorous the ancestors entered the pass, Nurhachi, Kangxi, Qianlong... how prestigious and glittering, but why is it so difficult to pass it on to this day? Yichai looked at the crying brother Huang, and knew the sadness in his heart. Although he is from the royal family, after all, he is the king of a country. When the Qing Dynasty came to him, the barbarians invaded and the people became bandits. The Qing Dynasty was about to crumble. , his responsibility is really great, how will he face Lie Liezong when he comes underground? When it comes to ancestors and ancestors, when it comes to Cao Cao in the underworld, Yijin can't help but think of the thin Yisuo.In the past two years, my brother seemed to know his destiny.When he first succeeded to the throne, he was fairly industrious, with lights on at three o'clock and roosters at five o'clock, early in the morning and early in the frosty moon, working hard for the country and worrying about the people, he had the appearance of a wise monarch.But this kind of situation disappeared in a short time, and I felt a little helpless.The reason is that Emperor Daoguang left him a mess. He thought that even if he exhausted all his energy on state affairs, it would be difficult to make the country decent.He was a little discouraged.He had a little thought in his heart that he wanted to give up the pick.So he no longer went to court early, read memorials from various places at night, and was no longer diligent in government affairs.He began to pursue enjoyment.He thought, haven't all the concubines in the palace recognized yet?I can't let people accompany me for nothing, so I take the initiative to care for them, so that the concubines of the Sangong and Sixth Courtyard are full of life music every day like Chinese New Year.Then his body will not work.Without a good body, everything will be sick.His mood was even worse. He started vomiting blood.That was when he heard that Tianjin had fallen, he felt anxious, and felt a sharp thing pierce it, and immediately there was liquid protruding from his mouth and nose.He subconsciously covered it with his hand, but the liquid was resisted, and after changing direction, it splashed on his chest, and the bright yellow dragon robe was immediately dyed with black and purple flowers.This was the first time he saw blood, and it was blood in his own body.From this moment on, he knew that his life might be over. Only a few people knew that the emperor vomited blood, only the relatives of the emperor and a few ministers knew.Of course Yijin is one of them, he and Yining are brothers and sisters, so naturally his heart is heavy.He has passed the age of competing for the emperor, and now he enjoys life so happily only thanks to his elder brother's protection.Yijin is an enjoyment of life, among all the princes and nobles, he is the most suave person.He doesn't have the busy state affairs and heavy responsibilities like Yisuo, but he has the same amount of romance and sensuality.He can even play better than Yining, and he can enjoy it.These are all because he has an emperor brother. Seeing his brother constantly twitching his shoulders, Yi Teng was afraid that he would be too sad, so he quickly knelt down and begged his brother to mourn. Only then did Emperor Xianfeng turn around and look at the helpless draft with tearful eyes again.Sixth brother, what should I do according to your suggestion?Xianfeng asked. Your Majesty, according to the current situation, there is no need to say anything, hurry up and follow the foreigners.In my opinion, although foreigners are vicious, they are only the scourge of tigers and wolves. If you feed them enough, they will not hurt people. They are not the most dangerous enemy... Seeing Emperor Xianfeng's eyes suddenly light up, Yiqi stopped talking.Seeing that Brother Huang didn't mean to criticize, he went on to say: These foreigners are all physically ill. They will not take your Majesty's world, your land, or your subjects.And it is the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, the Nian Army, and the bandits who want to take our world away, and they are the troubles in our hearts.Xianfeng nodded in agreement, motioning for Yijin to continue.Therefore, it is better to get rid of the foreigners as soon as possible, make a peace treaty with them, satisfy the interests of Britain, France, the United States, Russia and other countries in China, and then form an alliance with them to jointly wipe out the rebellious party and keep our great Qing Dynasty from generation to generation... Yi Tuan listened and turned around again.He felt a little awkward listening to the sixth brother's words.Foreigners insult me ​​like this, and he wants to form an alliance with them, damn it!In your opinion, wouldn't it be better to give the country to the barbarians?Emperor Xianfeng asked coldly. Yi Fufu quickly knelt down again, explaining again and again: "Slave doesn't mean that. I said it's just an expedient measure. The barbarians are tigers and wolves. This cannot be changed."But we can use it to rule bandits with barbarians, borrow its brute force, and wait for the world to be peaceful and the country strong, and then it will not be too late to plan to rule barbarians... Seeing that although Yi Fu's words were evil, they were reasonable, so Xianfeng no longer cared about his pro-barbarian tendencies.Yi Ning had already known about the rumors about Prince Gong's Tong Yi through his secret eyes and ears, and today he saw it with his own eyes, which planted the seeds of dissatisfaction with Yi Jin in Yi Ting's heart.A year later, when Xianfeng died of illness in Rehe, for this reason, he ordered eight people, including Prince Yi Zaiyuan, Prince Zheng Duanhua, and Hubu Shangshu Sushun, to be ministers of the king of government affairs, and Yijin was excluded. Favor.Yi Shui hated foreigners so much that he gritted his teeth, but since the general situation was over, he had to listen to Prince Gong and agree to all the conditions of foreigners... But why haven't foreigners come yet? In case the signing fails and the foreigner schemes against him, how can he explain to the emperor?Isn't that a capital offense? While dripping with cold sweat, the desperate Prince Gong Yiqi heard the sound of a drum. The sound of the drum became louder and louder.It was Ergin who came. Surrounded by 100 cavalry and 400 infantry, the British special envoy Elgin sat in a gorgeous green tweed sedan chair, carried by 16 Chinese bearers wearing purple livery, to the lobby of the Ministry of Rites.The street from Andingmen to the lobby of the Ministry of Rites was guarded by British soldiers with live ammunition.A field artillery company was on the fort built by Gordon at Andingmen, ready to fire shells to any corner of Beijing at any time.When Elgin's sedan chair entered the ceremony hall, the band played the British song "God Save the Queen".There were also bursts of celebratory cannons outside the Anding Gate. Seeing that Erjin had entered the lobby, Yiqi hurriedly led his team to greet him, but Erjin squinted at Yifang as if no one was there, nodded slightly, then walked straight into the signing hall, sat down in the hall, and immediately ordered the signing to begin .It seems that he is the master of this country. It was in such an atmosphere full of humiliation and inequality that Yisu and Elkin exchanged the Sino-British "Tianjin Treaty" of ratification, and then signed the Sino-British "Beijing Treaty". On the second day, the French envoy Guerre and the imperial envoy and plenipotentiary of the Qing Dynasty Yi Su signed the peace treaty respectively, and exchanged the ratification of the Sino-French "Tianjin Treaty" signed in 1858, and signed the Sino-French "Beijing Treaty". ". The main contents of the Sino-British and Sino-French "Beijing Treaty" are as follows: 1. Compensation for British and French military expenses of 8 million taels, British pension of 500,000 taels, and French 200,000 taels. 2. Open Tianjin as a commercial port. 3. Allow Chinese laborers to go abroad. 4. Return religious property to the Catholic Church. 5. Ceded the Kowloon Division to the United Kingdom. Article 6 of the Sino-British "Beijing Treaty" states: Previously, on February 28th of this year, Lao Chongguang, the Governor of Guangdong and Guangxi in the Qing Dynasty, handed over the first district of the Kowloon Division in East Guangdong to the British stationed in Guangdong Province to temporarily act as the envoy of the British and French General Administration. The permanent lease has been recorded, and the Qing Emperor decided to hand over the territory to the Great British Monarch and his heirs, and to return it to the territory of British Hong Kong, in the hope that the jurisdiction of the port and the common people will be safe.In addition to the approval as waste paper, there are Chinese people in the area claiming to be business owners, which should be investigated by the committees of the two countries. Because this family is the original business, if it happens in the future, it will inevitably be ordered to move to another place, and the Great Britain will not be unfair. repair. According to the provisions of this article, part of the territory of Kowloon Division in Xin'an County of our country, that is, the part of the Kowloon Peninsula south of today's Boundary Street (including Stonecutters Island?) was forcibly ceded by the United Kingdom. On January 19, 1861, Ergin, who was so successful, held a huge territorial handover ceremony in Kowloon.Elgin is going back to China. During his tenure, he did three things: 1. Exchange the contract by force; 2. Sign the Sino-British "Beijing Treaty"; 3. Invade the Kowloon Peninsula. He regards the occupation of Kowloon as a great achievement. When he returns to his hometown, he will hold a decent ceremony in Kowloon so that everyone will remember his name. He himself cut off a piece of fertile land from the hands of the Qing Empire, and he wanted to bring a specimen of this soil to the Queen of England, asking her to smell the fragrance of the dreamy oriental empire soil for herself. At 3:00 p.m., Elkin arrived at the venue accompanied by Parker Parker, Hong Kong Governor Robinson and his wife and other officials stationed in Hong Kong.The county magistrate of Xin'an, the deputy general of the Dapeng Association, the inspector of the Kowloon Division, the officers of the Kowloon City Garrison, and local officials of the Qing Dynasty also went together. Elgin first received Chinese officials.These Chinese local officials were humble and humble, and Erjin stared at them arrogantly, forcing them into a ball with his scorching eyes.Elgin told the translator in English, telling them to prepare a bag of soil and give it to me. The translator translated Erjin's words to the officials of the Qing Dynasty.The translator said that the Great Britain's plenipotentiary envoy to China, Elgin, loved China very much and was very happy with the Qing Empire's decision to lease Kowloon to Britain forever. He believed that this was an epoch-making beginning of Sino-British relations.He will return to Great Britain to fight for his life.Before leaving, I very much hope that local Chinese officials will dedicate a bag of soil to him as a symbol of China's permanent lease of the Kowloon Peninsula to the UK.Lord Elgin will bring this bag of soil back to England so that His Majesty the King can also appreciate this beautiful land. The translation is very tortuous and emotional.His Cantonese was half-baked, but the Chinese officials still understood that they wanted a bag of soil and dedicated it to the Queen of England! So they acted quickly, filled a handful of loess from the hill near Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, with an exquisite and fine Guancao straw bag, and brought it to Erjin to ask him to look at it after they were done.After reading it, Elgin expressed satisfaction and smiled.Elgin smiled. After arriving in China, that is, after being appointed as the special envoy to China again this time, his face has always been gloomy and gloomy.He is usually a serious person.Because of the heavy burden on his mission to China this time, he even lost his smile. However, he is smiling now, this is the first time he laughed when he came back to China.He didn't laugh when he captured Tianjin, captured Beijing, burned the Old Summer Palace, signed the "Tianjin Treaty" and "Beijing Treaty", but he laughed today. He didn't dare to laugh then.Don't look at him owning strong ships and guns, new weapons, and the most modern army in the 19th century, but he feels like entering a volcanic area bursting with underground magma.Those volcanoes are the people of China. After the British and French allied forces captured Tianjin, they robbed all the way and bloodbathed all the way to the city of Beijing.The Qing army was like a defeated quail fighting a defeated chicken, and had no power to fight back. Unexpectedly, the people were full of flames, and they raised the banner of anti-foreignness one after another.In Tianjin, the people meet and unite, and when foreign soldiers enter the village, they will gather and attack.If the foreign soldiers are dispatched, there will be a sudden sound of alarm gongs and drums in the distance, so that the villagers are ready to meet the enemy.Once, an officer of the British army was surveying the terrain at the head of the northwest city. He was surrounded by villagers unknowingly, put it in a sack and threw it into the river.After being knocked unconscious, the officer broke free and ran back to the barracks. He called more than a hundred people to provoke and retaliate. Unexpectedly, the whole village was ready to fight with weapons, which frightened the British.Another time, a group of British soldiers sneaked into a town. Armed with rifles and short knives, they broke into shops and looted wantonly.What is even more frightening is that when the coalition forces attacked Beijing from Tianjin, the salt industry, water transport workers and peasants in Tianjin, Dagukou, Beitang and other places organized themselves, and the number increased from 200 to 1,000 or 2,000. The transport ships of the British and French allied forces blocked the supply line of the allied forces, which caused Elgin a headache.In addition, the Taiping Army and the Nian Army were even more dangerous. Hundreds of British and French soldiers were killed in the areas where they were active, and the coalition forces had to make a detour in fright.Elgin felt that the Qing army was not dangerous, only the people were in danger. Once they woke up, they would overwhelm mountains and seas, like some of his troops, they would immediately be submerged in the torrent of people... Elgin has already sensed the most dangerous place.But he was still able to escape and return.That's what he should be thankful for.He walked a long stretch of steel wire. Although there were turmoil and dangers, he finally walked from one end to the other safely, and he was about to set foot on his way home.So he laughs. He will take this mysterious oriental holy land and go back to ask for credit and reward from the queen.The handover ceremony began. According to the plan, according to Erjin's order, a Qing official handed a bag full of Kowloon soil to Erjin who was grinning from ear to ear.Elgin took the blood-like soil of Kowloon with both hands, held it up high, and showed it to the soldiers of the coalition army.Bacharley read the following statement on the spot in both English and Chinese: Great Britain and the Qing Dynasty agreed in the capital, and immediately signed the renewal of the peace treaty with seals. It was handed over to the Great Britain stationed in Guangdong Province to temporarily serve as the envoy of the British and French General Administration, and the third-class Baoxingba was granted, and the permanent lease was approved on behalf of the state.It is hereby determined by the Great Qing Emperor that this territory will be given to the Great British Monarch and his successors, and will be subject to the jurisdiction of British Hong Kong.Now this minister has respectfully represented the Great British Monarch to delineate the boundary of this area, take charge of it and garrison it, and issue instructions together.For this reason, everyone from far and near knows it.Since then, the civil and military officials and servants of the Qing Dynasty were not allowed to manage the common people within the territory.All government affairs within the territory should be governed by the official constitution sent by the Great British Monarch, and governed by the laws and regulations agreed upon by the Great British Monarch in conjunction with the inner court and recommended by the ministers.The decree of the Great British Monarch has not yet been received.This minister first handed over the territory to the Governor of Hong Kong, Baron Luo of the Navy and Army Affairs, to manage politics.It should set up civil and military officials to handle various affairs such as land, people's conditions, security, and local affairs.Each should be respected and not violated, here is a special reminder.The rumbling salute rang out.The Union Jack climbed up the flagpole like a snake and fluttered over Kowloon Island.Elgin delivered a speech saying: Ladies and gentlemen, now, thousands of miles away from the Queen of England, we have acquired the land of Kowloon. This is the result of God's blessing, this is the credit of Her Majesty, and it is also the pride of the soldiers of the British Empire. For this reason, I propose three cheers to our Queen, to our British Empire... Cheers erupted from the audience.The soldiers fired their guns into the air in unison to congratulate.Amidst the noise, Elkin, Bacharley and Robinson raised their glasses to celebrate the success of the occupation of the Kowloon Peninsula. Only the Chinese officials present were dejected... In this way, during the Second Opium War, Britain once again ceded 7.93 square kilometers of land on the Kowloon Peninsula.It inserted into the mainland like a wedge, completely controlling Victoria Harbor, and consolidated and strengthened Hong Kong's position as a base for invading China.从此，香港的辖区边界扩展到大陆一隅，并在尖沙嘴一带开辟新区，成为与维多利亚城隔海相望的双子星座，一个重要的军事基地。不久，咸丰病死于热河行宫。 又不久，叶赫那拉氏与恭亲王奕圻发动政变，夺取了清王朝的最高统治权，因而博得洋人的一片欢呼声。 这是中国历史上第一次与洋人内外结合的政变。叶赫那拉氏从此大权独揽，开始了一个更加黑暗腐败的年代深圳河1993年初冬的一天，为了完成一部大型电视片的撰稿任务，我来到深圳福田区采访。在这里我结识了上步村的党支部书记林展强、福田区办公室主任何国平等人。福田区原名叫上步区。因有上不去的嫌疑，一心想发财致富的当地人便将名字改为福田区。上步村是福田区的核心地段，同时也是该区最富的单位。所谓上步村，实际上早已没有村落的影子，它只悬挂在当地人的传说中。作为村党支部书记的林展强，除了确实仍是村支部书记之外，还是百家企业的总董事长。这百家企业有房地产、旅馆业、工厂、商场等等，它们就散布在深圳郁郁葱葱的城市森林中，而上步村的村庄、农田、老榕树上悬挂的生产队锈迹斑斑的铁钟都被钢筋水泥的洪流淹没了。只是共产党的基层组织仍是这个新起城市一隅最活跃最坚强的神经。于是，人们仍称林展强为林书记。在林书记的带领下，我们来到了深圳河边。林展强说，这就是深圳河。 何国平说，河这边是我们深圳，河那边就属香港啦。我抬眼望去，在河边上，蜿蜒着一道铁丝网，铁丝网南，就是香港的新界地区。 林展强说，这条铁丝阿把我们和那边一分为二，就像一只苹果，被人一刀切开。 深圳河被铅灰色的天空笼罩着，河水微波不兴。河面飘拂着团团缕缕奶白色的雾霭。不远处，有人从铁丝网那边走过来，他们荷锄提浆，安详而又从容。 林展强说，他们大都是这里的村民，他们每天都要越过这条边界，去那边去耕种自家的田地。只不过现在仍靠种庄稼的村民已所剩寥寥，他们只是上了年纪的人和不愿意在城市工作的人。他们有的并不指望靠种田吃饭。他们去那边的目的似乎只是去探望他们的土地，或是对往日生活的一种凭吊或回想。 南边是香港新界，那里是包括大鹏湾、深圳湾及周围235个岛屿、面积达975，1平方公里的一大片地方，一个世纪之前，它们之间并没有铁丝网，它们绵亘相连，都是我神州沃土。 当笔者铺下稿纸，行文中出现新界字样之前，脑海中最早出现的就是深圳河，以及那些从河对岸走来的村民们。他们仿佛是从厚重的历史帷幕里走了出来。那是1898年6月9日，英政府再次强迫清政府签订了《展拓香港界址专条》，把这片土地强行租借99年。 是那些荷锄提浆的村民们以自己特有的方式追记着过去那不堪回首的历史。 1891年12月10日，罗便臣就任香港第11任总督。在此之前，他是英国殖民地部的官员，就在他即将退休的时候，他被派往遥远的东方去为大不列颠管辖那颗熠熠闪光的宝珠一一香港。 香港确切地讲是维多利亚女王皇冠上的宝珠。从她执政初年即占领香港岛，那时她还是个二十出头的腼腆姑娘，如今，她巳经执政五十余年，成了一个威严和略带神经质的老太婆。她十分关注香港的前程和发展。她选择了罗便臣为香港第11任总督，认为罗便臣是一个聪明干练具有很强办事能力的人，他会为英帝国带来新的利益和某些好处。 此时，俄国、法国、德国、日本、美国等相继登上争夺在华利益的舞台，英国唱独角戏的垄断地位受到严重威胁，由罗便臣这样一个机敏的富有殖民经验的人去充当总督，将会挽救英国在华逐渐势微的颓局。 于是罗便臣就来到了香港。 经过半个世纪的经营，香港已经初具英国一般城市的规模。它是按照英帝国的模式构建的，充满了殖民气息。罗便臣很快就适应了这里的气息。 就在这种气息里，罗便臣悠哉地生活了好几年。但如养在水中的鱼一样，鱼儿大了，水却觉浅了。 罗便臣养大了自己的肺叶，他觉得香港委实太小了。那么多粘稠的人们挤压在香港岛窄小的空间，就像沙丁鱼罐头。香港就是一听沙丁鱼罐头。 罗便臣在寻找扩张的机会。The opportunity came. 1894年，中日甲午战争爆发了。战争仅进行了200余天，大清帝国便千疮百孔，大厦将倾，不得不委派重臣李鸿章东渡日本，与日本签订了屈辱的《马关条约》。 日本是弹丸岛国。数千年来，它一直隐在中国文化山峰的暗影里，默默品尝着邻国文明河流引向日本本土的潺潺细水。它们是在中国文化浸泡中长大的民族。它委实太小了，太不起眼了，因此，几乎没有谁能注意到它。但近代以来，它却迅速膨胀起来，借助先于中国发展的工业力量开始向中国挑衅。它们开始不把中国放在眼里，不买中国政府的帐，甚至对中国的附属国大打出手，出兵平壤，抢吃中国席上的美餐。然而中国出兵平壤，日军不但不退却，不避让，反而和中国真刀真枪地干了起来，并且将中国军队打得大败而归。这次甲午海战，竟将中国海军舰队彻底摧毁。从此，中国政府不但怕西洋，而且怕东洋。《马关条约》里向中国索要23000万两白银，加上日本以中国库存银两成色分量有问题等借口，实要增赔5000万，总赔款竟高达28000万两白银！这个数字可折合当今人民币130亿元。为还清这笔赔款，年收入仅为9000万两白银的清政府，不得不向列强借债，为此借款本息超过了6亿两白银，它相当于清朝当时八年的全部财政收入。 不仅如此，日本人还强行割占了台湾和澎湖列岛。中国经此一战，已没有半点还手之力。于是俄法美等国趁火打劫，纷纷向清政府提出各自的要求，逼其就范。 罗便臣当然不能放过天赐良机，他在此间曾两次写信给本国殖民部，建议夺取中国更多的领土，扩大香港殖民地的现有地盘。 他说：香港的地盘应该推进至大鹏湾，再推进到后海湾，至少也得从东北方向的白鲤鱼门海峡扩展到九龙背后的山顶，包括珠江口汲水门在内。加普礁、横栏、大屿山和香港三海里以内的海岛，都应割让给英国。如果女王陛下有意在适当的时候介入这场战争，我冒昧地恳求上述建议受到认真仔细的考虑。罗便臣的信函在英国内阁受到重视。实际上，早于罗便臣之前，关于占领新界的企图，在一些军界和远东商界就已经酝酿许久。和香港岛和九龙半岛相比，新界实在肥美和辽阔了许多，这里有山有水，有大片的农田，有甘蔗林和荔枝树，这块土地要比那些岛屿有趣和实惠许多。于是他们纷纷向英国内阁要求割占这块土地。但是，他们的主张受到了首相兼外交大臣索尔兹伯里的狙击。索氏认为，数十年来，英国在中国已经拥有至高无尚的地位，它主要表现在政治、经济的影响，对华贸易一直居高不下，同时英还在中国最富庶的长江流域享有特殊利益，英国人还长期把持中国海关总税务司等要职，这些是别的西方国家难以企比的。况且英国已经拥有了香港，已经在中国身上剜却了一块肉，如果再事展拓，势必会引起列强效尤，反而会削弱英国的在华影响和既得利益。这是个不太稳妥的主意。于是索尔兹伯里就没有采纳。 而今天，罗便臣又一次提出新界展拓一事，朝野上下立即沸扬起来。 军界的一些人以不满的口吻说，新界一事早该排上议事日程。现在，由于我们的退让，已使别的国家逐渐占据了中国舞台的中心。在人们的心目中，英国不是什么日不落帝国，而是日落西山的模样。这样的局势，大概是我们在新界问题上不思进取的缘故。 商界方面的代言人也说，香港目前的淡水供应和禽畜、蔬莱供给不足、人口短缺及缺少工业依托，已经大大限制了它的经济发展。它很可能变得无所作为。以这样的态势，它很难完成女王陛下赋于它的贸易使命和军事使命。更危险的是，由于它没有土地和人口支持，将来中国在50年之后成为一个军备充分的强国之时，香港不但不能再行展拓，反而岌岌可危。 这股由罗便臣刮起的风潮对索尔兹伯里的前政含有不满。因此，内阁各部碍于首相之故，均反应冷淡。新界展拓一事又一次悬置起来。但是，军界并不罢休。 1895年5月13日，英国海陆军联合委员会向内阁提出一份报告，说为了香港的安全，为了防止别的国家在珠江北岸或鲤鱼门外的大鹏湾登陆，南下九龙半岛，乘隙攻击英要塞，或从中国领土上炮轰维多利亚港湾并截断香港的食物供应等问题，应该着手在香港展拓或调整界址。这份报告首先获得了英国陆军部和海军部的赞成，并立即转呈了首相索尔兹伯里。索尔兹伯里这下犯难了。 关于拓展新界的呼吁他已经听得耳中磨出了老茧，这些急功近利的喧声使他非常恼火。他们这些人太不知足了。明明是人家的国土，却无所顾忌地得陇望蜀。这些人的海盗本性怎么修炼也难以掩饰。索尔兹伯里虽然心里明白，他们这些政府官员在制定殖民政策时，实际上和海盗毫无二致，但这是指本质而言。他们之所以是官员，是内阁成员，就是要在海盗本质外面涂上文明的扮黛，要做好包装，不能给世界舆论以口实，让人家一眼看穿是一帮海盗做的事体。 但是，这些人全然不顾忌这些，完全不想包装的事。赤裸裸提出新界割占的要求，这让我索尔兹伯里如何张口？ 可是转念一想，比英人有过之而不及的大有人在，比如日本，比如俄国，比如法国，他们最近相继提出了许多让文明人难以启齿的要求，比土匪更土匪，比野兽更野兽，比海盗更海盗，中国政府不也认了吗？这是个没有世界公理的年代，还顾及那么多干什么？文明只是累赘，武力才是一切。如果丢失了这次机遇，丧失了割取新界的大好时机，这同样也是一种失职。 对帝国内阁政府来说，最核心最本质的东西仍然是掠夺掠夺再掠夺。在他的任期，如果与新界失之交臂，并且在垂手可得而又没有一丝风险的情况下痛失良机，他自己也会遭到内心谴责的。what to do? 索尔兹伯里一时左右为难起来。 殖民部官员似乎看透了首相大人重重顾虑的原因。于是就想方设法为他寻找借口——寻找割占新界的借口，就像当年割占香港和租借九龙半岛那样。 这时，福建古田发生教案。1895年8月，古田斋教首领刘兴祥发动民众抗税，同时准备起义。他的这一行动不慎被英国传教士获悉，英国传教士立即密报福州领事，领事遂向闽浙总督宝泉密报，总督即派兵赴古田镇压。刘兴祥为了教训充当间谍的传教士，率领民众焚毁了教堂，并哄抢了传教士们的财产。英舰随之开来，要挟福建地方官员要严办乱民众。结果，刘兴祥等26人被处死，200余人被投进监狱。 此事发生后，殖民部官员认为这是展拓香港的好时机，可以利用，于是便向索尔兹伯里进言，劝他借此拓展香港领土。 此时，山东巨野又发生教案，德国借机出兵强占胶州湾。俄国打着替中国效力的幌子，也出兵占领了旅大。 1898年3月，清政府先后与德、俄签订《胶澳租界条约》和《旅大租地条约》，面对既成事实，索尔兹伯里只得默认。 这说明，英国在中国独占鳌头的局面被打破。有人认为，之所以出现这等局面，索氏应该负很大责任。是索尔兹伯里的保守外交使德俄挤进了中国，抢走了本应该属于大英帝国的东西。 基于以上种种原因，索尔兹伯里对华政策已经到了山穷水尽的地步，他不得不开始调整对华政策，并将自己兼任的外交大臣的职务交由贝尔福代管。 瓜尔福上台伊始就采取攻势。他主张在中国采取强硬政策。此时法国正向中国政府提出租借广州湾等要求，并且还要将云南、贵州、广西、广东作为自己的势力范围去谋求。 英国的在华利益受到进一步的威胁，如果再不动手，新界将永远不可能归属英国，或许会成为他人桌上的一道美餐。 事不宜迟。1898年3月28日，英国政府正式指示英国驻华公使窦纳乐，要求他立即通告中国政府，如果同意法国租借广州湾，大英帝国也要展拓香港界址。窦纳乐积极行动起来。 1898年4月2日，强租新界的谈判开始实施。中方代表是庆亲王奕。一个月前，窦纳乐和他就租借威海卫一事进行过谈判。那时，敏感的庆亲王就隐约嗅出了英人除了威海卫以外，还暗含着另外的企图，他在席间曾向窦纳乐打哈哈说，威海卫事，我们中国人够朋友吧？窦纳乐也笑吟吟地颔首说是。那么，贵国就不要再难为我们啦，阁下不会再伸手索要别的地方吧？ 窦纳乐也装着开玩笑地回复一句：那也不一定。如果法国人向你们索要广州湾，我们就会再索要新界。Why?庆亲王不解。 因为这是为了英中两国的利益。窦纳乐说。 你们从我们身上割去一块肉，难道还是为我们好？ 是的，贵国不是有刮骨疗毒的故事吗？这是为了贵国的健康才不得已而为之。庆亲王瞠目结舌。